Nominative Predicate Noun

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In Ukrainian, when you say 'A is B' (e.g., 'He is a student'), you use the nominative case for both words. In the present tense, the verb 'to be' is usually omitted.

How It Works

The nominative predicate noun is used to classify or identify the subject. In the present tense, Ukrainian uses a zero copula.

1. The Dash (—):
In written Ukrainian, a dash is used in the following cases:
• Between two nouns in the nominative case (e.g., Київ — столиця, "Kyiv is the capital").
• Between two infinitives (e.g., Читати — думати, "To read is to think").
• Between a noun and an infinitive (e.g., Ваше завдання — здобувати знання, "Your task is to acquire knowledge").
• When the predicate is a numeral (e.g., П'ять і п'ять — десять, "Five and five is ten").
• Before particles: Before the words це, то, ось, or значить when they introduce the predicate (e.g., Мова — це скарб, "Language is a treasure").

2. When the Dash is Not Used:
The dash is typically omitted if:
• The subject is a personal or interrogative pronoun (e.g., Я студент, "I am a student"; Хто він?, "Who is he?"). Note: A dash can be used with personal pronouns for stylistic emphasis or contrast (e.g., Я — українець).
• The word це is the subject rather than a particle (e.g., Це мій будинок, "This is my house").
• The predicate is an adjective, possessive pronoun, or participle (e.g., Погода гарна, "The weather is beautiful").
• There is negation (e.g., Серце не камінь, "The heart is not a stone").
• Using comparative particles like як, мов, ніби, наче.
• The subject and predicate are separated by an introductory word or particle like просто, лише, вже, мабуть.

3. Past and Future Tense:
In the present tense, the zero copula triggers the nominative case. In the past or future, the instrumental case is the modern default for both temporary states and permanent traits (e.g., Він був студентом, "He was a student"). The nominative case is traditionally used for permanent traits or inherent characteristics (e.g., Він був хороша людина).

4. Agreement with "це" in the Past Tense:
When using the pronoun це as a subject in the past tense, the verb бути must agree with the gender of the predicate noun, not the neuter "це" (e.g., Це була помилка, "That was a mistake"; Це був мій брат, "That was my brother"). The predicate noun remains in the nominative case.

5. Adjective Agreement:
While nouns retain their own gender, adjectives in the predicate must agree with the subject in gender and number (e.g., Вона щаслива, "She is happy").

Examples (6)

Київ — столиця України.
Kyiv is the capital of Ukraine.
Word by Word: Kyiv — capital of-Ukraine.
A dash is typically used when both the subject and the predicate are nouns in the nominative case.
Жити — значить боротися.
To live is to struggle.
Word by Word: To-live — means to-struggle.
A dash is required when the subject and predicate are infinitives, especially before the word 'значить'.
Наше завдання — здобувати знання.
Our task is to acquire knowledge.
Word by Word: Our task — to-acquire knowledge.
A dash is used when the subject is a noun and the predicate is an infinitive.
Цей хлопець просто студент.
This boy is just a student.
Word by Word: This boy just student.
The dash is omitted because the subject and predicate are separated by the particle 'просто'.
Моя сестра — це лікарка.
My sister is a doctor.
Word by Word: My sister — this doctor.
A dash is mandatory before the word 'це' when it introduces the predicate.
Це була помилка.
That was a mistake.
Word by Word: This was (feminine) mistake.
When using 'це' in the past tense, the verb 'бути' agrees with the gender of the predicate noun (feminine 'помилка'), and the noun remains in the nominative case.

Common Mistakes

Omitting the dash between two nouns in the present tense.
Київ столиця.
Київ — столиця.
According to Ukrainian orthography, a dash is typically required when the copula is omitted between two nouns in the nominative case. While it can be omitted in colloquial speech or simple phrasing without a logical pause, learners should generally use it in formal writing.
Forgetting the dash before 'це', 'то', 'ось', or 'значить' when they introduce the predicate.
Книга це вчитель.
Книга — це вчитель.
A dash must be placed before words like 'це' or 'значить' when they act as particles introducing the predicate. However, if 'це' is the subject (e.g., 'Це мій будинок'), no dash is used.
Failing to agree a predicate adjective with the subject.
Вона був щасливий.
Вона була щаслива.
Unlike nouns, which keep their own gender, adjectives in the predicate must match the subject's gender and number.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Nominative Predicate NounLevel 2

Learn This First

To understand the Nominative Predicate Noun, you first need to be comfortable with the basic nominative case for subjects. You also need to understand that Ukrainian typically omits the verb 'to be' in the present tense (zero copula) and uses simple identification structures like 'це + noun' where both parts remain in the nominative case.